Monday, June 18, 2012
COLUMBUS (AP) — Ohioans expected TV ad wars. It’s a presidential election year.
What’s surprising some is that not all the dueling ads are political.
A high-pitched advertising fight between electric utilities is hitting airwaves alongside all the Obama and Romney ads. It’s an unprecedented approach.
The utility dispute to be decided by state regulators this summer involves costs that Columbus-based American Electric Power seeks to recover from customers as it transitions to retail competition.
With Akron-based FirstEnergy fighting its plan, AEP has taken its case to customers through a series of spots. One example portrays FirstEnergy as a bully filching lemonade from a child and selling it at a profit.
FirstEnergy responded with its own ads. One portrays AEP as a basketball player dodging behind a group of kids to avoid competition.